1 VERB If you interpret something in a particular way, you decide that this is its meaning or significance. □ [be V -ed + as ] The whole speech might well be interpreted as a coded message to the Americans. □ [V n] The judge quite rightly says that he has to interpret the law as it's been passed. □ [be V -ed] Both approaches agree on what is depicted in the poem, but not on how it should be interpreted.
2 VERB If you interpret what someone is saying, you translate it immediately into another language. □ [V ] The chambermaid spoke little English, so her husband came with her to interpret. □ [V n] Interpreters found they could not interpret half of what he said.
in|ter|pre|ta|tion / I ntɜː r pr I te I ʃ ə n/ (interpretations )
1 N‑VAR An interpretation of something is an opinion about what it means. □ The government put a different interpretation on the figures.
2 N‑COUNT A performer's interpretation of something such as a piece of music or a role in a play is the particular way in which they choose to perform it. □ [+ of ] …her full-bodied interpretation of the role of Micaela.
in|ter|pre|ta|tive / I ntɜː r pr I tət I v/ → see interpretive
in|ter|pret|er / I ntɜː r pr I tə r / (interpreters ) N‑COUNT An interpreter is a person whose job is to translate what someone is saying into another language. □ Aristide spoke to the press through an interpreter.
in|ter|pre|tive / I ntɜː r pr I t I v/ also interpretative ADJ [ADJ n] You use interpretive to describe something that provides an interpretation. [FORMAL ] □ History is an interpretive process.
inter|reg|num / I ntə r re gnəm/ N‑SING An interregnum is a period between the end of one person's time as ruler or leader and the coming to power of the next ruler or leader. [FORMAL ]
inter|re|late / I ntə r r I le I t/ (interrelates , interrelating , interrelated ) VERB If two or more things interrelate , there is a connection between them and they have an effect on each other. □ [V ] The body and the mind interrelate. □ [V + with ] Each of these cells have their specific jobs to do, but they also interrelate with each other. □ [V + with ] …the way in which we communicate and interrelate with others. □ [be V -ed] All things are interrelated.
inter|re|la|tion|ship / I ntə r r I le I ʃ ə nʃ I p/ (interrelationships ) N‑COUNT An interrelationship is a close relationship between two or more things or people. □ [+ between/of ] …the interrelationships between unemployment, crime, and imprisonment.
in|ter|ro|gate / I nte rəge I t/ (interrogates , interrogating , interrogated ) VERB If someone, especially a police officer, interrogates someone, they question them thoroughly for a long time in order to get some information from them. □ [V n] I interrogated everyone even slightly involved. ● in|ter|ro|ga|tor (interrogators ) N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] □ I was well aware of what my interrogators wanted to hear.
in|ter|ro|ga|tion / I nte rəge I ʃ ə n/ (interrogations ) N‑VAR An interrogation is the act of interrogating someone. □ …the right to silence in police interrogations.
in|ter|roga|tive / I ntərɒ gət I v/ (interrogatives )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An interrogative gesture or tone of voice shows that you want to know the answer to a question. [WRITTEN ] □ Donovan cocked an interrogative eye at his companion, who nodded in reply.
2 N‑SING In grammar, a clause that is in the interrogative , or in the interrogative mood, has its subject following 'do', 'be', 'have', or a modal verb. Examples are 'When did he get back?' and 'Are you all right?'. Clauses of this kind are typically used to ask questions.
3 N‑COUNT In grammar, an interrogative is a word such as 'who', 'how', or 'why', which can be used to ask a question.
in|ter|rupt / I ntərʌ pt/ (interrupts , interrupting , interrupted )
1 VERB If you interrupt someone who is speaking, you say or do something that causes them to stop. □ [V ] Turkin tapped him on the shoulder. 'Sorry to interrupt, Colonel.'. □ [V n] He tried to speak, but she interrupted him. ● in|ter|rup|tion / I ntərʌ pʃ ə n/ (interruptions ) N‑VAR □ The sudden interruption stopped Beryl in mid-flow.
2 VERB If someone or something interrupts a process or activity, they stop it for a period of time. □ [V n] He has rightly interrupted his holiday in Spain to return to London. ● in|ter|rup|tion N‑VAR □ [+ in/to ] …interruptions in the supply of food and fuel.
3 VERB If something interrupts a line, surface, or view, it stops it from being continuous or makes it look irregular. □ [V n] Taller plants interrupt the views from the house.
inter|sect / I ntə r se kt/ (intersects , intersecting , intersected )
1 VERB If two or more lines or roads intersect , they meet or cross each other. You can also say that one line or road intersects another. □ [V n] The orbit of this comet intersects the orbit of the Earth. □ [V ] The circles will intersect in two places.
2 VERB If one thing intersects with another or if two things intersect , the two things have a connection at a particular point. □ [V + with ] …the ways in which historical events intersect with individual lives. □ [V ] Their histories intersect.
3 VERB [usu passive] If a place, area, or surface is intersected by things such as roads or lines, they cross it. □ [be V -ed] The city is intersected by three main waterways.